Halfbrick takes a joyride through the 2012 Pocket Gamer Awards

Own an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and have yet to get your thumbs on Jetpack Joyride? We're sorry, but your taste in mobile games is officially suspect. Mobile game news outlet Pocket Gamer feels the same way, apparently, as Australia's mobile game powerhouse Halfbrick nabbed four mentions in the website's 2012 Pocket Gamer awards for its most recent hit, Jetpack Joyride.

The newest Barry Steakfries adventure, which is poised for a massive update this April, was deemed Pocket Gamer's "Best Action/Arcade Game," "iPhone/iPod touch Game of the Year" and its "Overall Game of the Year." During a special award show at this year's Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Pocket Gamer also pegged Halfbrick as "Best Developer."

While Jetpack Joyride clearly swept Pocket Gamer's event, Capybara Games' lofty, artsy iOS game Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP managed to earn the news outlet's "Most Innovative Game" and "iPad Game of the Year" awards. Generally speaking, it seems like beautiful simplicity in mobile games is what impresses Pocket Gamer the most, and we'd be hard pressed to disagree.

The majority of mobile gamers would likely agree with Pocket Gamer, especially after seeing the top iPhone and iPad games of all time. Even Pushmo, a simple to learn yet tough to master puzzle game on Nintendo's 3DS, earned the website's "3DS Game of the Year" award over hits like Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7. If that's not a sign of the times in handheld gaming, we don't know what is.

Are you surprised that Jetpack Joyride cleaned house this year? Did your favorite handheld game make the list? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.